City approves plans for downtown LR marina

The project is being developed by JAPB LLC of North Little Rock. Former highway commissioner John Burkhalter, who's also running for lieutenant governor, is the managing partner of JAPB.

Associated Press

Little Rock officials have approved plans for a mixed-used development in downtown Little Rock that would include a marina and boat ramp on the Arkansas River.

The Little Rock Board of Directors has approved a zoning change to allow construction of the Rock City Marina and Yacht Club at East Second and Bond streets downtown, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Monday (http://bit.ly/1i1f21z ).

The project is being developed by JAPB LLC of North Little Rock. Former highway commissioner John Burkhalter, who's also running for lieutenant governor, is the managing partner of JAPB.

"I think the city has confidence that Mr. Burkhalter has the means, passion and vision to make this happen," Assistant City Manager Bryan Day said. "He's already applied for and been awarded an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission grant for about $1 million. He's done his due diligence and acquired the property and pulled the funding together."

Plans submitted to the city call for 192 apartments, a clubhouse, two marinas with about 425 boat slips and a floating restaurant and market. Burkhalter said groundbreaking on the major phase of construction will likely happen within a year.

"The vision I have for this project is one that people are excited about because of the positive impact that it will have on our city and our economy," Burkhalter said in an email. "A public/private partnership of this magnitude does not happen overnight, but with continued determination and commitment we are going to see this through and make sure we are doing everything right."

Currently, if someone wants to launch a boat into the Arkansas River near downtown, the closest options are at Murray Park off Rebsamen Road or across the river in North Little Rock, Day told the newspaper.

According to documents from the Army Corps of Engineers, the design also includes a mitigation project to replace habitat and floodwater storage after a small island is removed and create a no-wake zone where boats would be required to travel at idling speed.

Laurie Driver, spokeswoman for the Little Rock office of the Corps of Engineers, said several other plans had been discussed for the property, but JAPB was the first developer to ask for the appropriate permits from the Corps.